Modesto City Schools cuts just one district-office manager position as budget causes layoffs
Last month, the Modesto City Schools district reported it will cut 75 positions as part of an estimated $10.6 million budget reduction.
At Board of Education meetings on Nov. 12 and Nov. 18, MCS employees shared frustrations that no district-level management positions are included in the layoffs.
The 75 positions being laid off include certificated staff, classified staff and school-site administrators. The positions affected are paraprofessionals, school secretaries, campus supervisors, student support administrators and management.
Sharokina Shams, chief communications officer at Modesto City Schools, said Wednesday that one district office management position will be impacted by the layoffs this year. Shams added there might be more district office managers considered for layoffs in the 2025-26 school year.
Since the 2020-21 school year, the percentage of Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) spending on administration has seen a greater increase compared to certificated staff, according to the Modesto Teachers Association.
Between the 2019-20 school year and the 2024-25 school year, spending for administrators saw a 79% increase, while spending for certificated staff grew by 43%.
Superintendent Sara Noguchi said at the November board meetings that she plans to give a presentation in February on why the rate of spending for district management has increased over the years.
The California School Employee Association requested early notification about layoffs so that members have time to find other employment.
All employees set to be laid off this school year have been notified. But CSEA staff will meet with them and HR representatives and around April should have a clearer idea on who will be on the final layoff list.
Shams said the district will continue to advertise open positions that are not impacted by the reductions. She added the district conducted the program evaluation early in order to give people more time to consider their next steps.
“As we have shared with staff members whose positions are being reduced, they will have the opportunity to apply for other positions — and it is likely that many, if not most, will be able to secure a new position within the district,” she said. “The reductions approved by our Board of Education last month will not take effect until the end of this school year.”
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 6:07 PM.
